The Sporting Lisbon defensive ­midfielder ’s agent was given a tour of the club’s Carrington training ground last week and Portuguese international Carvalho will sign for United for £37million before the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Angolan-born 21-year-old has a £37m release clause in his contract which United are prepared to trigger before the World Cup begins on June 12.

A host of top clubs are keen on Carvalho – including Chelsea – and having missed out on targets like Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas and Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera last summer Woodward and Moyes have vowed not to be caught out again this year.